Visit the Sanibel Captiva Islands for the best shelling in Florida. Shells are the perfect souvenir to remember your Sanibel Captiva vacation.
Visit one of the many Sanibel Captiva island beaches. The Sanibel beaches provide fun and relaxation for a romantic trip, a family vacation or hanging out with friends.
Find a Sanibel Island beach hotels or a hotel on Captiva Island. Whether you are looking for a vacation rental, a resort, or a island retreat you are sure to find what you want on SanibelCaptiva.com.

Now is the Time for Sanibel Island Real Estate

Sanibel Island is a beautiful white beach laden island just off the coast of Florida. It’s a great place to own a vacation home, whether you plan to retire there, stay there for a few months of the year, or simply rent out your vacation home for all but the weeks you want to use it. Plus, right now is an excellent time to purchase Sanibel Island real estate.

Like the rest of Florida, Sanibel Island suffered severely from the recent housing market crash. Prices on gorgeous vacation homes are seriously reduced. This is even true of homes that are right on the beach front! Right now, you can save tens of thousands of dollars on properties that have beautiful views and are gorgeously built to be relaxing beachside homes.

The key to getting a good deal on Sanibel Island real estate is to check out area prices first. The prices of homes whose owners are in foreclosure are going to be a lot lower than the prices of homes whose owners are simply ready to sell without being pressed to do so. If you team up with a good Sanibel Island realtor, you’ll be able to find potential foreclosure homes that you could get really excellent deals on.

The homes that are available right now on the beach are absolutely gorgeous. With prices this low and mortgage rates this good, it’s really hard to pass up. Plus, you can always rent your property for much of the year, which can often mean that the home pays for itself. You can have basically free vacations on this beautiful island whenever you feel like it as long as you choose a property wisely and well.

VN:F [1.1.7_509]
Rating: 9.0/10 (1 vote cast)

October 14, 2010   No Comments

Enjoying Seafood in Sanibel Island, Florida

Locals of beachside locations always say that you’ve never tried seafood until you’ve tried fresh seafood. From kids to adults, people who hate fish as a general rule often find they love it when it’s been caught, cooked, and served all in the same day. If you’re getting ready for a visit to Sanibel Island, Florida, you’d better get ready to enjoy some seafood.

Luckily, there are tons of seafood restaurants in town to choose from. Some are dressy and upscale while others are sports bars that serve shrimp and fish along side the Buffalo wings. If you really want to get a feel for all the seafood creations that are available in town, why not try a different restaurant each night? The best way to find the absolute best restaurants in town is to ask the locals, and you can never go wrong by taking a long-time server’s suggestion on the best house dishes!

Of course, the advantage of being in an island town is that you can also enjoy fresh seafood on your own. If you love taking your own culinary adventures, head to a fresh fish market in Sanibel Island, Florida, and pick up a little something to prepare on your own back at your condo or beach house. Cooking seafood is a totally different experience when you’re dealing with catch that came in just a few hours before!

However you choose to do it, make sure you enjoy some seafood when you visit Sanibel Island for a vacation. If you’re a restaurant diner, stop and ask others which places they’ve enjoyed most. If you’re an aspiring chef, pack up some of your favorite spices, and be prepared to cook the best fish you’ve ever tasted.

VN:F [1.1.7_509]
Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

October 13, 2010   1 Comment

Captiva Oil Spill Updates and Forecasts

For those who have been planning summer’s end vacations to eastern Florida, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has the potential to disrupt their plans totally. Fortunately, though, most of Florida’s beaches are still clean, and swimming is even still allowed in most of the waters of the area. This is because the wind and the direction of the currents has made the oil more of a problem in Louisiana, although there have been some issues in the north of Florida’s Gulf coast region.

Those who are planning vacations to the beautiful Sanibel Captiva area will be glad to note that officials are giving the oil less than a one percent chance of reaching the islands. As of now, the beaches are pristine and beautiful. Visitors and residents are even reporting that the smells of burning tar which affected some of the Florida beaches haven’t reached Captiva yet.

If you’re planning to visit Captiva soon, look for Captiva oil spill updates frequently. Officials are currently releasing forecasts in seventy-two hour increments. It’s impossible to predict further into the future than this, as the ocean currents and winds can change things fairly quickly. As of now, though, the seventy-two hour forecast is clear and beautiful, with the Captiva beaches being free from tar balls and totally safe for swimmers of all ages.

The Sanibel Captiva oil spill updates will continue to be released as long as the oil spill is a problem in the area. Clean up efforts are going well for many areas, though. Environmental officials estimate that right now, only 25% or so of the oil that was originally leaked from the ocean floor is present on the surface of the water. The rest has been cleaned up manually or with fire or has simply dispersed into the environment.

VN:F [1.1.7_509]
Rating: 8.0/10 (1 vote cast)

September 30, 2010   No Comments

Where to Stay on Captiva Island

Located off the coast of Florida, Captiva Island is the perfect place for a family vacation or a romantic getaway. If you love white sand beaches, the roar of the ocean waves, and plenty of things to do, you’ll love this island. The first thing to do when you’re planning your vacation is to decide where you’re going to stay. Luckily, there are options all along the gamut of prices and styles.

One of the popular island options is small beach cottages that you can rent. These are often great for solitary retreats or getaways for two. Even though they might be a bit more expensive at the start, they can end up being a little more affordable. Instead of eating out every night, head to the market for some fresh seafood you can cook on your own in your beachside cottage.

Similar to this option is the option of renting a home or condominium on or near the beach. This is a fantastic way to do a group vacation if you can find a spot that’s large enough. Many of these condos and homes have several bedrooms and several baths, so you can easily accommodate two or three families, or even more. If you’ve got kids, this is always a nice option, since you can often cook your own meals and do laundry once or twice during the week if you need to.

Of course, you can always go with a hotel on Captiva Island, too. There are some very affordable options for budget vacationers. There are also high-end resort style options. If you want an all inclusive vacation with everything from evening entertainment to brunch on the beach, this is a great option for you. It makes vacation easy and stress free!

VN:F [1.1.7_509]
Rating: 8.0/10 (1 vote cast)

September 26, 2010   No Comments

Types of Sanibel Island Hotels

Sanibel Island is a great place to go for a family vacation or just a short weekend getaway. No matter why you’re going, though, you need to research Sanibel Island hotels before you head out. Luckily, as a resort island, Sanibel has tons of hotels to choose from. You can get all sorts of different packages and stay in hotels with varying per night prices.

One of the most popular options for those who are staying on the island for a relaxing vacation is a resort style hotel. Those like the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Spa have all sorts of extras right on their grounds, and you can get lots of great all inclusive vacation packages, too. There are also a couple of golf resorts for those whose vacation can’t be complete without playing at least nine holes a day.

Some of the hotels offer traditional hotel room style accommodation, but others offer more condominium style rooms or even freestanding cottages. The latter are more expensive, but they might be worthwhile for a family vacation. You often get a kitchen, and you could also end up with connected living spaces for a multi-family vacation.

There are also some more affordable hotel options on the island that are very traditional. Sanibel Island hotels in this category include a Marriott and a Holiday Inn as well as a Residence Inn. These may not have all the amenities of a full resort, but they also offer a more affordable option for vacationers who are on a budget. Plus, you can still enjoy all that Sanibel has to offer, from nightlife to beach walks to great swimming pools at your hotel or around the area. You definitely don’t have to have an all inclusive package to enjoy your stay in Sanibel Island.

VN:F [1.1.7_509]
Rating: 8.0/10 (1 vote cast)

September 24, 2010   1 Comment

Things to Do on Sanibel Island

If you’re thinking about taking an island vacation, why not take one that’s a bit closer to home? Right off the cost of Florida, Sanibel Island is a great place for a family vacation or a romantic trip for two. The island is crowned with gorgeous white sand beaches, but laying out by the surf isn’t the only thing to do. If you’re wondering how you could take a more active role in your vacation, here are a few things you can do on this island.

For one thing, the island is definitely a haven for nature lovers of all sorts. You can always, of course, take walks on the beach. There are also some great bike trails through the island that can bring you within close proximity of some of the area’s wildlife. Plus, you can take specialized bird watching tours to check out many of the feathered friends of Sanibel Island.

It you really love the water, you don’t have to leave it for your entire vacation. Why not fish off one of the beaches or a charter boat? You could also go snorkeling or take some scuba diving classes. Those who really need to get their heart rates going can try water sports of all kinds on rented equipment that’s easily accessible on the island.

When you’re ready to get out of the sun for a bit and enjoy some evening activities, why not see a movie or visit one of the island’s museums? There are also art exhibits galore, and you can even visit one of the area’s antique shops to bring back a unique souvenir from your trip. You’ll find all this and more on Sanibel Island, so if you want a beach vacation where you don’t just lie by the water all day, it’s definitely a good option.

VN:F [1.1.7_509]
Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

September 19, 2010   No Comments

Sanibel Oil Spill Update: How the Island Escaped

Despite the fact that many areas of Florida have been seriously impacted by the Horizon oil spill of this spring, Sanibel has escaped these problems. As of right now, there are no tar balls on the pristine beaches of this Florida island, and there isn’t even a smell of burning oil coming in to trouble visitors. Whether you’re already got a vacation booked for Sanibel or you’re thinking about switching from an affected area to this island, come on down for a time of relaxation and fun.

Currently, the Sanibel oil spill update is basically that the island hasn’t been touched by this tragedy at all. When you look at a map of the Gulf Coast, you may be wondering how this could be at all. It seems like this island would be right in the midst of the wandering tar balls and the smells of the horrible oil spill. However, it’s really hard to tell where things are going to end up when you’re dealing with the ocean.

With this oil spill, things have been completely unpredictable. The tides and currents have taken the oil slick to unexpected places and have left other places, such as Sanibel and Captiva Islands, totally untouched. While there’s no telling what’s going to happen as the oil cleanup continues to take place, right now officials say that the Sanibel oil slick is nothing to worry about at all.

The currents are simply swirling the water affected by the oil spill away from Sanibel, so the island’s beaches are staying clean and beautiful. Vacationers are being pleasantly surprised by this area, but if you’re headed this way soon, you don’t need to put off your vacation at all. Simply continue to stay updated and make your choices on the most current information available.

VN:F [1.1.7_509]
Rating: 8.0/10 (1 vote cast)

September 15, 2010   1 Comment

Sanibel Oil Spill News

Sanibel Island is off of the East Coast of Florida, one of the tourist areas most impacted by the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill. While many of Florida’s white beaches have been contaminated by tar balls in recent weeks, Sanibel has escaped this fate. The latest Sanibel oil spill news notes that the small island still features beaches as pristine and white as ever.

Right now, the government estimates that only 26% of the oil spilled from the leak in the Gulf remains on the surface of the water. The remaining portion of the oil was cleaned up by burning, dispersed throughout the ocean in undetectable droplets, or has naturally dissolved into the surrounding environment. Because so little of the oil is left on the surface of the water, officials are optimistic about clean up efforts.

While it’s true that some areas have already dealt with the effects of this remaining portion of the oil spill, in Sanibel, oil spill effects have been minimal throughout the spring and summer months. Right now, the forecast says that the oil spill won’t reach Sanibel Island at least through the end of August.

Although the fickle nature of the ocean’s currents, ebbs, and flows means that it’s impossible to predict oil spill behavior too far into the future, officials of area are hopeful that the Sanibel Captiva oil spill updates will continue to be positive. Because of these hopes and the fact that the island has completely escaped contamination to date, the officials of the area have declared no warnings for swimming or fishing off of the island. Vacationers are still enjoying the warm Gulf waters and beautiful beaches of the island as they close out the summer with a relaxing, refreshing vacation.

VN:F [1.1.7_509]
Rating: 7.0/10 (1 vote cast)

September 9, 2010   No Comments

Sanibel Captiva Oil Spill and Area Tourism

Many of the Gulf Coast areas are now suffering in multiple ways because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that began in April of this year. The environment is certainly going to feel the impact of the spill for a while, but the economies of various coastal towns are feeling the impact right now.

The Sanibel Captiva oil spill news is actually very good. Even still, though, many tourists are pulling reservations out of the area. Now the islands stand to lose millions of dollars in revenue because people are too afraid to vacation there.

Because of this, many businesses that are already floundering because of the economy are starting to have even more trouble staying afloat. Before deciding whether or not to back out of their vacations in the islands, tourists should find out about the latest Sanibel oil spill updates that will give them seventy-two hour forecasts on where the oil is going to be at any given time.

Although there’s not 100% way to predict what the oil that is left on the surface of the water will do, experts are saying that there is a less than 1% chance of the oil actually reaching the shores of Sanibel Captiva. It’s looking like the end of summer is going to be a great time to support the economy of a struggling area by taking a much needed vacation!

It’s really easy to find news on the Sanibel Captiva oil spill, since everything is posted online these days. Officials will be releasing seventy-two hour forecasts each day giving locals and tourists and idea of what to expect. So far, though, not even the smell of the oil spill, which has affected many areas off of Florida’s coast, has affected tourists or locals in Sanibel.

VN:F [1.1.7_509]
Rating: 5.5/10 (2 votes cast)

September 8, 2010   1 Comment

Now is the Time for Sanibel Island Real Estate

Sanibel Island is a beautiful white beach laden island just off the coast of Florida. It’s a great place to own a vacation home, whether you plan to retire there, stay there for a few months of the year, or simply rent out your vacation home for all but the weeks you want to use it. Plus, right now is an excellent time to purchase Sanibel Island real estate.

Like the rest of Florida, Sanibel Island suffered severely from the recent housing market crash. Prices on gorgeous vacation homes are seriously reduced. This is even true of homes that are right on the beach front! Right now, you can save tens of thousands of dollars on properties that have beautiful views and are gorgeously built to be relaxing beachside homes.

The key to getting a good deal on Sanibel Island real estate is to check out area prices first. The prices of homes whose owners are in foreclosure are going to be a lot lower than the prices of homes whose owners are simply ready to sell without being pressed to do so. If you team up with a good Sanibel Island realtor, you’ll be able to find potential foreclosure homes that you could get really excellent deals on.

The homes that are available right now on the beach are absolutely gorgeous. With prices this low and mortgage rates this good, it’s really hard to pass up. Plus, you can always rent your property for much of the year, which can often mean that the home pays for itself. You can have basically free vacations on this beautiful island whenever you feel like it as long as you choose a property wisely and well.

VN:F [1.1.7_509]
Rating: 8.0/10 (1 vote cast)

September 4, 2010   No Comments